INFJ Relationships, Dating, Love & Compatibility

INFJs are outwardly warm and engaging. Due to their extraversion of Feeling (Fe), they can readily ingratiate themselves to others. And while forming quick friendships and extensive connections may be the goal for some extraverts, for INFJs, this is not the point at all. Rather, INFJs seek high quality, in-depth relationships. In their friends, as well as their romantic partners, they seek intelligence (both intellectual and emotional), honesty, openness, and authenticity. Their ideal partner would take seriously the issue of personal growth and development—moral, spiritual, emotional, and psychological.

Despite their status as introverts, there is little INFJs value more than quality conversation. They relish the chance to share their wisdom, theories, and insights. Unfortunately, they often find that most people (especially S types) fail to fully comprehend or appreciate their theories and insights. This can leave INFJs feeling like there is no ready outlet for their wisdom and that no one really understands their essential worth or value. So if and when they happen upon a likeminded individual, one who values and eagerly partakes in the INFJs’ inner life, it can feel like a godsend. The title of David Keirsey’s book, Please Understand Me, aptly expresses what INFJs seek in relationships.

Misunderstandings in INFJ Relationships & Dating

INFJs commonly report feeling misunderstood. Considering their status as the rarest of all personality types, this comes as little surprise. There are numerous misunderstandings about INFJs that could potentially hamper their dating and relational success.

A common assumption among males is that all females have similar perspectives on romance. This is particularly off the mark with respect to female INFJs. “Canned romance,” such as receiving the same bouquet of flowers every year come Valentine’s day, is apt to mean little to INFJs, who are quick to differentiate the “real and authentic” from the “fake and contrived.” For INFJs, romance is cultivated on a daily basis through open communication and authentic action. What is done on special occasions is merely icing on the cake. Take away the cake, however, and the icing is meaningless.

Another common misunderstanding is that INFJs are controlling or closed-minded. This typically stems from INFJs’ tendency to extravert Judging (Fe). But as I’ve described elsehwhere, IJs are often better understood as Perceivers because their dominant function (e.g., Ni) is a Perceiving function. In actuality, INFJs, especially those further along in their type development, are surprisingly adaptable and open-minded. While rarely wearing their openness on their sleeves, as ENFPs are wont to do, INFJs can be surprisingly open to unique or less conventional relational practices.

Nor is it the case that INFJs are overly controlling, or even want to be in control, in their relationships. As dominant Perceivers, they are generally healthiest when they allow life to come to them. Many INFJs have discovered that if they take it upon themselves to act and directly control outcomes, bad results often ensue. For INFJs, “action” can be understood as a direct employment of their inferior function (Se). And as I’ve discussed elsewhere, overt or direct employment of the inferior often produces undesirable outcomes. All of this is to say that the optimal role of INFJs in a relationship is generally a more receptive one, using their Ni and Fe to understand and interpret the world rather than trying to control it.

Another misconception about INFJs is that they are emotionally “needy.” This likely stems from the fact that INFJs extravert and readily express their emotions a la Fe. INFJs differ from the cultural norm in this respect, as the emotionally-restrained presentation of Fi predominates among American females. But just because INFJs are quicker to express their emotions does not make them any needier than FP types. In fact, since most men use Fe rather Fi (at least in the U.S.), they might appreciate the fact that, when paired with an INFJ, they needn’t guess about what their partner is feeling.

Yet another misunderstanding is the claim that INFJs “read into things that are not there” or “make mountains out of molehills.” Such accusations can be troubling for INFJs, since reading into things a la their Ni is what they are born to do. In most cases, such accusations derive not from any wrongdoing on the part of the INFJ, but from the assumptions or ego sensitivities of their partners. For instance, by saying things like “Are you okay?” or “You don’t seem yourself today” INFJs are trying to gather more information in order to better understand their partner. Unfortunately, their partner may interpret these as judgments or critiques, inciting a defensive response. If such exchanges were to occur regularly and without rectification, the INFJ might begin to introvert her feelings and doubt her own intuition, a sure recipe for personal and relational disaster.

The Inferior Function in INFJ Dating & Relationships

No relationship can be optimally navigated without an adequate understanding of each partner’s “weak spots.” While the shadow functions (functions 5-8) could certainly qualify as weak areas, they tend to be less problematic because they are not as attractive or enticing as the inferior function. The inferior is problematic because it is both attractive and underdeveloped. It is like a child who desperately wants to get behind the wheel of a car because driving looks like so much fun.

Therefore, it is critical that INFJs and their partners work to understand the nature of and challenges associated with the INFJ’s inferior function, Extraverted Sensing (Se). Having already enumerated the nature of their Se in my INFJ profile, our focus here will entail facets of their Se that are particularly relevant to their functioning in relationships.

While there are numerous aspects of Se that can prove problematic in INFJ relationships, money is among the most prominent. INFJs love to be ensconced in beautiful surroundings. They appreciate fine food, furniture, clothing, and accommodations. Their concern for beauty and attraction to worldly things can actually rival that of ESFPs, even if their tastes are significantly different. But INFJs often have a harder time fitting into the modern working world (and making a lot of money) than seems to be true of talented ESFPs. INFJs are also slower to pair with S-types, for whom making money can come fairly naturally. Therefore, INFJs can feel stuck. They may desire, even envy, the ESP lifestyle, but aren’t willing to sell their Ni soul to obtain it. This love-hate relationship with money and other Se desires is important for both INFJs and their partners to understand.

Se can also affect INFJs’ view of themselves and their bodies. They are as susceptible as other Se types to harshly judging their own physical appearance. They may even be prone to abusing their bodies, such as through harsh dietary or exercise regimens, in hopes of achieving their desired look.

Sex is another area in which their inferior Se plays a role. INFJs can have a love-hate, all-or-nothing approach to sex. At times, they may feel like addicts, at others, like renunciants. It’s not hard to imagine INFJs taking a vow of celibacy in hopes of eschewing such Se extremes. What is more, INFJs’ disconnectedness from their physicality may complicate the logistics of sex. INFJs often feel they have little control over their bodies, including their level of sexual arousal and physical readiness for sex. This unpredictability can be a source of frustration for INFJs, as well as their partners, especially if the issue fails to be discussed openly or understood more clearly. It’s not that INFJs cannot enjoy satisfying sex lives, but it is important for partners to understand this as another area in which INFJs (and INTJs) may differ from other types.

Lastly, INFJs are more apt to fall into “grip experiences” when trying to execute Se tasks. As is true of other types, they can be perfectionistic and obsessive when trying to directly employ their inferior function. For INFJs, this may include activities like cooking or other arts, in which they expect themselves to execute flawlessly. At times, INFJs may unwittingly extend these expectations to their partners, feeling they should exhibit the same level of Se skill and concern the INFJ expects from herself. Of course, most INFJs eventually recognize this propensity and look for ways of tempering it, lest they risk harming themselves and their relationships.

INFJ Compatibility with Various Personality Types

We’ve already discussed numerous qualities INFJs seek in a romantic partner, things like intelligence, openness, honesty, and authenticity. They may also be attracted to wealthy, physically attractive, or highly skilled (i.e., in some sort of Se performance) individuals, although such criteria are less pertinent to long-term compatibility. What INFJs may desire most is an intimate, metaphysical kinship. They want to convene with their partners in the world of language and ideas.

Once immersed in a conversation that interests them, INFJs can speak at great length as their Ni penetrates ever deeper into the issue. Unlike Ne types, however, they don’t enjoy randomly bouncing from one topic to the next. However, this does not necessarily preclude INFJs from finding good compatibility with Ne types (i.e., ENTPs, ENFPs, INFPs, INTPs) as friends, lovers, or both. A primary function of Ne is listening—taking in N information from without. This can make NPs a good match for INFJs, who, as J-types, are more inclined to talk than listen. NPs are also good at asking questions, which can help jumpstart INFJs’ intuitive process.

As I’ve discussed elsewhere, one area in which INFJs may conflict with NPs is lifestyle. Since NPs use Si, they tend to be more fiscally conservative (especially INPs) and less entranced by “the finer things in life.” INFJs may balk at what they see as the frugal, second-hand shopping ways of some NPs. They may also crave more outer seriousness than NPs are inclined to display, especially in what the INFJ considers a serious moment or discussion; excessive silliness can be off-putting to INFJs.

Generally speaking, INFJs are ill-matched with Sensing types. As dominant Intuitives, INFJs live in a world of abstractions mediated by concepts and language. Since S types, especially SP types (ESTPs, ESFPs, ISTPs, ISFPs), prefer to relate through concrete action or activities, INFJs may struggle to find a common N denominator. While ISTJs and ISFJs can be somewhat more abstract in their ideation, INFJs may struggle with their deference to certain traditions or conventions.

Pairing with other NJ types can be a hit or miss affair for INFJs. Putting any two J-types together can seem a lot like opposing the positive poles of two magnets. When opposing J forces collide, relationships can be intense and fiery. This may be one reason that J-J pairings seem relatively uncommon. Moreover, if INFJs try to pair with INTJs or ENTJs, differences conferred by their Fe-Ti and Fi-Te function pairs may further the likelihood of disagreements and misunderstandings.

On the rare occasion that INFJs happen upon and pair with another INFJ, there can certainly be grounds for attraction and intimacy. But because INFJs are among the least practical of all types, at times even oblivious to S matters, this pairing could prove difficult once children, money, or other logistical factors enter the picture.

INFJs may also discover quick rapport and chemistry with ENFJs, who share all the INFJ’s preferred functions. One potential drawback, however, could involve ENFJs’ tendency to project their own dominant Judging preference onto INFJs, expecting them to be more “productive” or proactive than they might naturally prefer. This could lead them to put even greater pressure on themselves, which is sure to bring relational trouble. But if circumstances were favorable and both partners were adequately self-aware, there is no reason that INFJ-ENFJ relationships could not be successful.

Comments

Hi all! I am an INFJ and have a question about compatibility (romance-wise). I always read that INFJ and other I-types match well with E-types (i.e., ENTJ). For most of my life, I have been attracted to E-men, mostly because I did not really like being an I-woman. But as I’m maturing and getting more comfortable in my own skin, I am extremely happy with being an introvert. Moreover, I used to want to be an extrovert and disliked my introversion. Now I have accepted my introversion, enjoy it, and have learned how to be effectively social when needed. So now I feel more drawn to introverted men. But would this work out? I don’t feel like I need someone to bring me out of my shell. And I feel like an extroverted man would exhaust me (like they have in the past). My ideal relationship would be one where we can be quiet in each others’ presence without one person thinking the other person is upset.